Antipolo City launches the Ecological Arts Festival

MANILA, Philippines - The Siyudad ng Antipolo Art Guild (SINAG) in cooperation with the City Government of Antipolo, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Provincial Government of Rizal recently held the first-ever Ecological Arts Festival, coinciding with the Ang Tipulo Festival.

The first of its kind in the city, the main showcase is the art exhibition featuring the works of Antipolo artists, students of various elementary schools, and out-of-school youths.

The art exhibition was mounted at Dimasalang Park in downtown Antipolo. There were also workshops on sculpture, painting and installation art, as well as on-the-spot sketching sessions and artist forum on arts and environment.

SINAG is the result of the cooperation and enthusiasm of concerned artists in the city. It was through the likes of Rosie Gatlabayan, Armida Francisco, Genie Carlos, Hendrix Pereyra, Arnold Dominic Ty and Zaldy Arbozo who first interacted and were instrumental in the formation of a premier arts group in Antipolo.

But according to Zaldy Arbozo, current chairman of the guild, it was the young talents Cris Bernabe, Vincent Dinoso, Darren Huertas and Marlon Dizon who first approached him with an idea of putting up an arts club. Further consultation with the rest of the group and SINAG was formed in December 2003.

“This is just the beginning. SINAG is still in its early stage of developing into a fully efficient group,” says Arbozo. “We want this project to grow. We are very much grateful to the city government of Antipolo and the NCAA for their consistent support of the group in boosting people’s interest in the arts.”

For six years now, SINAG has consistently discovered more and new talents by providing competitions and workshops.